Locking device for ignition systems



J. H. HUNT.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5, I9I8-Y 1,375,757, Patented Apr. 26, 1921,

IVI'IZEHSEE. 112% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. HUNT, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DAYTON ENGINEERING LABS- RATORIES COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF 01-110..

LOCKING DEVICE FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented A n 26, 1921;

Application filed August 5, 1918. Serial No. 248,308.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN H. HUNT, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looking Devices for Ignition Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to ignition systems for internal combustion engines and the like, as forexam le,'the automobile engine; and has among t e. objects of invention the provision of a device for rendering the ignition coil inoperative in order to assist in prevent in theft of the automobile.

ore'particularly it is an object of the invention to provide an ignition coil and a lock operated device for rendering the coil inoperative all combined in a unltary structure inclosed in a permanently closed housing, which is constructed and arranged so that when mounted in position for use, only the key hole will be accessible; and only the usual conductors, connecting the ignition coil with the battery, timer and distributer. will be exposed.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a wiring diagram of an ignition system including an ignition coil embodying the present lnvention, said coil being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram including a diagrammatic showing of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates as a whole the ignitionmnit embodying the present invention. The unit 10 includes a bracket 11 provided withoutwardly extending arms 12 and 13 supporting the core 14 of an induction coil provided with primary windings l5 and secondary windings 16 surrounding the core 14. 17 designates the insulation wrapping which may surround the secondary windings 16. A housing or covering 18 of insulation material supported by the base 11 completely surrounds the ignition coil and the arms 12 and 13 of the bracket 11. Said houslng 18 is permanently secured to the base 11, and forms therewith a complete inclosure for the ignition coil an the locking device to be described.

A battery or other source of current .20 is grounded at 21 and is connected to ignition switch 22 which is connected with wire 23 with terminal 24, which is mounted on the housing 18, and is connected'by wire 25 with the primary winding 15, the other end of which is connected by wire 26 to terminal 27. .The primary ignition circuit is completed by wire 28 which connects terminal 27 with the timer 29 which is grounded at 30. A condenser 31 is connected in parallel with the timer 29.

One end of the secondary winding 16 is connected by means of wire 32 with terminal 24 and is thereby grounded through the battery 20. The other end of the secondary winding 16 is connected with a terminal 33 mounted'onthe coil inside of the housing 18. Terminal 33 is connected by wire 34 withthe high tension terminal 35 whichis connected'by wire 36 with the distributor 37.

Mounted on the bracket 11 is a lock 40 of the cylinder type including a cylinder 41 Bolt 45 is provided with a point53 which can be moved into close proximity to the terminal 33 when the bolt is moved to the position shown in dotted line in Fig. 2 by turning the key 42 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2.

The bracket 11 is mounted by any suitable securin means upon a dash-board of an automo ile as shown in section in Fig. 1. Where the dash-board is made of wood a' ground wire 61 may be" secreted within the dashboard in the manner showh in Fig. 1 for the purpose of grounding the bracket 11 upon some metallic part of the automobile. The bar 45 may be grounded on the primary circuit as by wire 62 with the same result. Where the dashboard is constructed of metal, it is not necessary to prov de a ground wire.

The operation of the device is as follows The ignition switch 22 is closed and the key 42 is inserted in the lock 40 and turned to on position in which the bar 15 will be in the position as shown in Fig. 2. The ignition system may operate in the usual manneri When it is desired to lock the car to prevent theft the key 42 is moved to the off position and removed from the lock 40. In this position the bar 45 is moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and in this position may come very close to or even contact with the terminal 33. When these conditions exist, the secondary winding of the ignition coil will be grounded through the bar 15, bracket 11 and the wire 61 or through the dashboard 60 where the same is constructed of metal; or may be connected with the secondary terminal wire 32 by wire 62. In this manner the distributer 37 will be short circuited and therefore no sparking impulses will be delivered to the same for distribution to the various spark plugs of the engines.

Referring to Fig. 3 in which a modified form of the invention is shown the bar 45 is arranged to contact with a terminal 'mounted upon the bracket 11 but insulated therefrom. A resistance coil 71 is connected with the terminal 70 and the wire 26. The dot and dash lined rectangle 72 is employed in Fig. 3 to indicate diagrammatically that all parts shown within the rectangle are completely inclosed within the housing 18, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows:

With the ignition switch 22 in a closed position and with the bar 45 in position as shown in Fig. 3 the ignition system will operate in the usual manner. But when it is desired to lock the car to prevent theft, the lock 42 is turned in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, thereby causing the bar 45 to move to the right into contact with the terminal 70. Under these conditions if it should be attempted to start the engine the primary winding 15 will be grounded through the resistance 71 when the timer contacts open. Thus instead of there being a quick reduction of the primary current when the contacts open the primary current will be choked down by means of the resistance coil 71 and no sparking impulses of sufiicient magnitude to jump at the spark gap in the engine cylinder will be created.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that there has been provided an ignition coil and a lock device therefor which are inclosed as a unitary structure in a housing and that the only wires which will be visible or accessible are the wires connecting the ignition coil with the battery. the timer and the distributer. The disconnection of any of these wires by one who is attempting to meddle with the ignition system in order to try to start the engine in the absence of the owner would only render the ignition system inoperative. Where the locking bar to is grounded on the primary, the only way in which to render the locking device ineffective would be to break open the housing 18 and disconnect the same from the coil. This could not be done except with considerable diiiiculty and without arousing suspicion. Thus it will be seen by providing a locking device and an ignition coil completely inclosed within a housing the possibility of theft is reduced to a minimum.

It will be understood that the resistance 71 in Fig. 3 might be omitted, there being in such a case a direct electrical connection between terminal 70 and the wire 26.

While the forms of mechanisms herein shown and described constitute preferred forms of embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In an ignition system, the combination with adistributer, a battery and a timer; of a unitary structure including a housing, an ignition coil adapted to be connected with the battery, timer and distributer, 10-. cated within'the housing, and a lock oper ated device located within the housing for short circuiting the distributer.

2. In an ignition system, the combination with a distributer, a battery and a timer; of a unitary structure including a housing, an ignition coil adapted to be connected with the battery, timer and distributer, located within the housing, and a lock operated device located within the housing for preventing the flow of ignition current to the distributer.

3. In a switch controlled ignition coil, the combination with a housing carrying terminals adapted, respectively, to be connected with a current source, an ignition timer, and an ignition distributer; of an ignition coil located within said housing and having a primary winding connected with said current source and timer terminals, and a secondary winding connected with said current source and distributer terminals; and aswitch located Within said housing for preventing the flow of secondary current to said distributer terminal.

at. In a switch controlled ignition coil, the combinationwith a housing carrying terminals adapted, respectively, to be connected with a current source, an ignition timer, and

an ignition distributer; of an ignition coil ciiii incinding a swiich located Within said housing for connecting the ends of the sccondary Winding.

5. In an ignition system, the combination with a distributcr, 2L battery and a timer; of a unitary structure including a housing, an ignition coil adapted to be connected with the battery, timer and distribuier, located Within the housing, a short circuiting switch for coil located Within the hous ing and lock operated means for operating said switch.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature JOHN H. HUNT.

Witnesges J. W. :MCDONALD, M. PEARE. 

